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What have I learned so far as a Vision of Hope intern?<\/em> My mind is spinning by the countless lessons I have learned in my short 3 months of being here so far!<\/p>\n A one sentence summary would be, “I thought I knew something, but I actually know nothing.” Boiled down to one word: humility<\/strong>.<\/p>\n I think all the staff, interns, and residents at Vision of Hope would agree on the fact that being here exposes your idols. Is it comfortable? Absolutely not! But it is so healthy!<\/p>\n Living in such close proximity to fellow sinners in the sanctification process gives us the opportunity to live out Hebrews 3:12-14:<\/p>\n “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still \u201ctoday,\u201d so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.”<\/em><\/p>\n You see, each of us, on our own cannot see our own sin. That is why we need each other! That’s part of why God’s design for relationships is so beautiful and important!<\/p>\n Idols have no place to hide when one lives in close relationship with others. My desires for control, comfort, acceptance, approval, (and many others!) lay bare, naked, and exposed before myself, everyone, and God. It is SO good to live in this environment where there is no choice but to lay aside my pride, admit my flaws, and repent!<\/p>\n It causes me to cry out to God saying, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me!” (Psalm 51:10). Open exposure to my sin causes me to marvel all the more at our wonderful, merciful Savior. The sacrifice God desires is a broken spirit and a humble heart (Psalm 51:17). By God graciously daily exposing my sin, I am all the more in awe that He would choose me in Him to be holy and blameless before Him even though He knows my desperately wicked heart that exists apart from Him.<\/p>\n God is teaching me to be satisfied in Him alone as my refuge and fortress.<\/p>\n “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”\u00a0 Psalm 73:25-26<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nIf you are interested in loving and serving hurting women, growing in ministering God’s Word to others, and having the Lord grow you in ways like what Rachel has shared, please contact our intern coordinator, Annie Martin, at amartin@faithlafayette.org for more information.<\/h5>\n
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